Editor's Note: These rules and regulations
governing the subdivision of land in the Town of Agawam are adopted
under the Subdivision Control Law, MGL c. 41, § 81-K to
81-GG, inclusive. Purpose (MGL c. 41, § 81-M) reads as follows:
"The subdivision control law has been enacted for the purpose of protecting
the safety, convenience and welfare of the inhabitants of the cities
and towns in which it is, or may hereafter be, put in effect by regulating
the laying out and construction of ways in subdivisions providing
access to the several lots therein, but which have not become public
ways, and ensuring sanitary conditions in subdivisions and in proper
cases parks and open areas. The powers of a planning board and of
a board of appeals under the subdivision control law shall be exercised
with due regard for the provision of adequate access to all of the
lots in a subdivision by ways that will be safe and convenient for
travel; for lessening congestion in such ways and in the adjacent
public ways; for reducing danger to life and limb in the operation
of motor vehicles; for securing safety in the case of fire, flood,
panic, and other emergencies; for ensuring compliance with the applicable
zoning ordinances or bylaws; for securing adequate provision for water,
sewerage, drainage, underground utility services, fire, police, and
other similar municipal equipment, and street lighting and other requirements
where necessary in a subdivision, and for coordinating the ways in
a subdivision with each other and with the public ways in the city
and town in which it is located and with the ways in neighboring subdivisions."